Training Tips

Guides for glides

Have you logged any gliding time lately?

Not true glider time—but how frequently have you drilled on engine-out scenarios during your recent powered-aircraft training flights?

If you were taken by surprise and had to struggle to remember procedures the last time your instructor idled the power and declared an engine “failure,” get some more practice soon. Focus on developing a continuing awareness of how you would proceed during each phase of flight. If it's going to be a few days or weeks before you have another lesson, take the Air Safety Institute quiz on emergency procedures.

Would your altitude give you time to turn back to the airport? Is there time to attempt to restart your engine, or would it be a better call to concentrate on a safe off-airport landing?

In cruise flight, keep tabs on possible emergency landing spots you pass. Estimate their distance off your course line, and accept or discard them based on your altitude, wind direction, and your experience with your aircraft's glide characteristics. Staying aware of approximate surface wind speed and direction along a route could pay big dividends in the event of an engine failure. Observe water surfaces, trees, and smokestacks for clues. Monitor weather-reporting stations along the way.

That landing site down below looks usable—so now inspect the approach path for obstructions. Look carefully for hidden traps like a low fence or hedge row near your chosen touchdown spot.

Arriving at a cross-country destination, it's comforting to know that you have the runway “made” after descent to traffic pattern altitude. Don't drift out of glide range by flying too wide a pattern, or by allowing yourself to get too low on final approach.

Too high on final? A forward slip can help you lose altitude before you are ready to commit to using flaps.

Clearing the engine is essential during sustained periods of power-off flight such as a simulated engine failure glide to a landing site (or to a minimum safe altitude when practicing off-airport). Make your practice safer by recognizing likely conditions for the formation of carburetor ice—common this time of year in many areas.

You may be able to recite your aircraft's emergency procedures checklists from memory when sitting at home in your favorite armchair. Regular practice using them assures that you can make them flow as advertised when it counts.

Flight Training News

Flight hours up, accidents down in 2010

Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters flew more hours and had fewer accidents in 2010, yielding lower noncommercial accident rates, according to a preliminary report issued May 1 by the Air Safety Institute. The accident rates of commercial GA flights—charter, crop-dusting, and external load operations conducted for pay—maintained the improvements seen over the past five years. Read more >>

Tennessee pilot wins Sporty’s sweepstakes Skycatcher

U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Matthew Smolin of Germantown, Tenn., answered what he may have thought was a prank call on May 19. But the call from Sporty’s President Michael Wolf was legit: Smolin had won Sporty’s 2012 Sweepstakes Cessna Skycatcher. The winner was announced at Sporty’s annual fly-in at Clermont County Airport in Batavia, Ohio. Read more >>

FAA modifies rule on Class D taxiing operations

A general aviation pilot based at a small airstrip faces many challenges when using larger, more complex airports. Under past practice, a ground clearance listing a series of taxi instructions—with no mention of runways crossed—might have been one of them. To cross, or not to cross? That was a question to ponder. Read more >>

Strong launch sustains pilot club 50 years later

The Elkins Pilots Club started with a bang 50 years ago with one instructor, one Piper J-3 Cub, 27 solos, and more than 100 students in its first 12 months. The club recently celebrated its golden anniversary, and the Cub that started it all was front and center at the event. Read more >>

Here comes the sun

The sun rises. The sun sets. And occasionally it spews forth extra energy—sometimes, a lot of extra energy. Should pilots be concerned? Reports of increased solar activity are starting to occur more frequently, and these geomagnetic storm, solar flare, and coronal mass ejection events are collectively known as “space weather.” But what do these terms mean and why are they important? Listen to scientist Joe Kunches from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colo., talk about space weather and its impact, if any, on general aviation. Watch AOPA Live® >>

Training Resources

Which flight school is right for you? Before we can help you find the perfect fit, you'll need to know your ultimate long-term aviation goal. Is it a flying career? Do you want to fly for fun? The answer will affect your decision-making process. Read tips on choosing a flight school from the Flight Training website, and use our online flight school directory to further assist you.

Did you know that student pilots who join AOPA are three times more likely to complete their flight training? Membership includes unlimited access to aviation information by phone (800/USA-AOPA, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time) or from Flight Training Online or AOPA Online. If you’re not already a member, join today and get the pilot’s edge. Login information is available online.

Pipistrel Panthera

What turned heads and drew a crowd at the Aero Friedrichshafen aviation show in Germany last month? Slovenian manufacturer Pipistrel’s Panthera attracted hordes of gawkers who came to get a closer look at the four-seat, 202-knot, 210-horsepower Lycoming IO-390-powered airplane. Projected to be certified in both Europe and the United States in 2015, the Panthera has a carbon-fiber and Kevlar composite construction. Drag is said to be so low that the airplane can cruise at 200 knots and burn 10 gallons per hour. Range is posted at 1,000 nautical miles. Watch AOPA Live >>

Career Pilot

New routes to Washington National announced

Several carriers have been awarded new routes to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The new service was made possible by enactment of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which authorized the Department of Transportation to award a limited number of new flights to U.S. domestic airports located beyond the airport’s 1,250-mile “perimeter limit.” United Airlines announced May 14 that it will begin service between Ronald Reagan Washington National and San Francisco International Airport. Virgin America also will begin service between DCA and San Francisco International. JetBlue was granted a beyond-perimeter slot exemption to fly between DCA and San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin Airport. Finally, Alaska Airlines will offer a daily nonstop flight between DCA and Portland, Ore., with service beginning by Sept. 8.

Embraer delivers 300th Phenom

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer recently announced the delivery of its 300th Phenom business jet. The Phenom 100 and 300 business jets are powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-E and PW535E engines, respectively. “The success of the Embraer Phenom family of aircraft is a testament to the aircraft’s appeal in this segment of the business jet market,” said David Van der Wee, vice president of marketing for Pratt & Whitney Canada. The PW500 family has accumulated more than 9 million flight hours, and has a basic overhaul interval of 5,000 hours. The approximately 2,000 PW600 engines in service have accumulated more than 1 million flight hours.

Plane Spotter

Cessna 190/195: Classic five-seater

Even from a great distance, you can tell it’s a classic. Built at a time when radial engines and “conventional” gear—that is, a tailwheel—were common, this high-winged five-seater is pure nostalgia on wheels taxiing in. But is it a Cessna 190 or a 195? Not important if all you want is a photograph for your Facebook page. But to their pilots, the difference can mean up to 60 extra horsepower for the 195—and almost 1,000 more of them were built from 1947 until production ended in 1954.

Training Products

Private pilot online ground school from ASA

Whether you prefer to study via your computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can complete your ground school training with the ASA Private Pilot Ground School from Aviation Supplies & Academics. The curriculum includes nearly 11 hours of video instruction and enables you to take practice tests and obtain the FAA knowledge test endorsement via any Internet-connected device. The $179.95 fee gives you access to the course for 24 months after registration and includes a notebook that you can use to take notes, journal, or organize your studies. Order online.

Note: Products listed have not been evaluated by ePilot editors unless otherwise noted. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors.

Member Benefits

AOPA Aviation Summit brings all-new learning experiences

AOPA is bringing more than 100 hours of education to AOPA Aviation Summit in Palm Springs, Calif., Oct. 11 through 13. You’ll connect with experts and new tools that will help you retain and recall critical information when you need it the most. Topics include making better landings; passing your checkride; choosing a CFI; and more. Read more >>

When it comes to your health, think like a pilot

Pilots strive to minimize risk before flights, so why do some think and act differently when it comes to their health? AOPA Director of Medical Certification Services Gary Crump shares information on screening tools to facilitate early detection of colorectal and colon cancer. Read more >>

Blogs

What I miss about GA

Would it surprise you to learn that professional pilot Chip Wright would change places with a general aviation pilot in a heartbeat? Also in this week’s Flight Training blog, Wright invites you to answer a job interview question about alcohol and flying.

New experiences: A power pilot chases a glider rating

Steve Tupper finds that flight in a motorglider offers a new and exciting way to add a rating while sharpening flying skills. Read more in the Let’s Go Flying blog.

Community

Picture Perfect

AOPA’s online photo gallery allows you to upload your own aviation photography as well as view, rate, and comment on others’ photos. Your favorite aviation images from AOPA Pilot are still available online through this new gallery. Take a look, and submit your own photos!

AVIATION EVENTS & WEATHER

Want something to do this weekend? Planning an aviation getaway? See your personalized online calendar of events. We’ve enhanced our calendar so that with one click you can see all of the events listed in the regions you selected when personalizing ePilot. Now you can browse events in your region to make planning easier. You can also bookmark the personalized calendar page to check it as often as you want. Before you take off on an adventure, make sure you check our current aviation weather provided by Jeppesen.

Final Exam

Question: I got a speeding ticket recently. Do I need to report that to the FAA?

Answer: No, typically you do not need to report a traffic violation in which you had to pay a fine. However, you would be required to report it on your medical application in question 18(v) if the violation resulted “…in the denial, suspension, cancellation, or revocation of driving privileges or which resulted in attendance at an educational or rehabilitation program.” An example might be if you had multiple speeding tickets and your driver’s license was suspended for a period of time. That would need to be reported at your next visit to the aviation medical examiner. You do not need to report it to the FAA Aviation Security Division per FAR 61.15 unless it involved drugs or alcohol. You should also bring court documents/police reports of the incident with you to the AME. The FAA will likely want to see them. The FAA has access to the National Driver Register, so if you don't report it they will eventually find out.

Instrument Tip

IFR Fix: Power and forgiveness

With an instrument rating in your logbook, it’s time to plan some of those trips you’ve always wanted to take. Are you planning to book the same old IFR aircraft for that long (long) cross-country? Think again, and this time, think about getting checked out in an aircraft that is more suited to the task. Think about checking out in a complex or high-performance airplane, with more horsepower that will get you to your destination faster, or a constant-speed propeller that offers a less-fatiguing ride, among other benefits. Read more >>

VGSI, RVR, ILS, TDZ?

More abbreviations—more to learn: If you’re gearing up for the instrument rating checkride or just curious about instrument flying, you’ll benefit from reviewing the Air Safety Institute’s IFR Chart Challenge: ILS Approach, one in a series of 15-minute approach chart briefings. This scenario sets you up on the ILS Runway 30R approach at Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, Calif. Ready to brief and fly the approach? See how well you do.

Although Congress is about to break for its August recess, AOPA members should keep calling their elected officials and asking them to co-sponsor the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 (PBR2), said AOPA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Jim Coon.

Mark Scheuer was tired of yelling at his wife across the noisy cockpit of their Grumman Yankee, and he thought there had to be a better way of communicating. PS Engineering Inc. was born out of that necessity and is now celebrating its third decade of forging new ground in cockpit communication technology.